South Korean students adjust strategies amid 2028 exam reforms

South Korean students are adjusting their university application strategies in response to the upcoming 2028 college entrance exam reforms. A survey by Jinhaksa of 3,706 applicants for the 2027 academic year revealed that 82.7% of respondents stated the 2028 reforms influenced their current application strategies. Many students are prioritizing universities and admission tracks with higher probability of acceptance to avoid the uncertainty of competing under a new system that includes a five-grade high school grading scale and the abolition of elective subjects in the CSAT.

Educational analysts from Etoos Edu advise caution regarding the trend of students dropping out of high school to focus solely on the CSAT. While some believe students leave school to reset their academic records, data shows that dropout rates have not seen a significant spike specifically due to the new grading system. Furthermore, many top-tier universities, including Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University, are planning to incorporate school records (student files) into their regular admission tracks for 2028, meaning a CSAT-only strategy may not guarantee admission to prestigious institutions.